Portable wood processing machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for processing fallen trees into split logs. A mobile frame having wheels mounted thereto includes a wench having an extendable cable removably attachable to the fallen tree. The cable extends through a chute to enable the fallen trees to be pulled therethrough. A hydraulically driven saw pivotally mounted at the end of the chute is operable to cut off portions of the fallen tree. The cut-off portion rests atop a ramp which has an inclined surface allowing the cut-off portion to be rolled into a splitter. The splitter includes a hydraulically operated ram slidably mounted in a secondary frame mounted atop the main frame of the machine. The ram is moveable towards a pair of intersecting stationary cutting blades for splitting the cut-off portion of the tree into split logs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of machines for processing trees intofirewood. A number of machines have been provided to cut down trees andto remove limbs from the trees. Additional machines have been providedto cut timber into individual logs. Log splitters are also available todivide or split logs into smaller pieces. A major disadvantage of manyof the prior machines is the requirement that the machines be manned byseveral persons. Further, many of the machines are difficult to moveinto forests which typically are quite congested with fallen trees,stumps, bushes, etc. Many fallen trees are located in ravines or otherinaccessible areas increasing the difficulty of processing the fallentree into split lumber. Disclosed herein is a tree processing machinewhich is readily moved into a forest and is operable by a single personin such a manner that the fallen tree is completely processed into splitlogs. Means are provided to pull fallen trees located in inaccessiblelocations to the tree processing machine.

An example of a machine for cutting portions off of a standing tree bymeans of an extendable arm is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,529,640, issuedto Kamner. Another approach is to sever the base of the tree which isthen placed in a wagon such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,522, issuedto Hyde, et al. A device for cutting down a tree and then moving alongthe length thereof to sever the branches of the fallen tree is shown inU.S. Pat. No. 3,340,912, issued to Williams, et al. Both the Williams,et al. patent and the aforementioned Hyde, et al. patent may be movedinto a wooded area to harvest trees. Various devices have been providedfor grasping lumber which is then processed such as shown in the U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,116,249, issued to Hogberg, et al., 4,273,168, issued toProbst, and 4,434,827, issued to Franklin.

Another disadvantage of the prior art devices is the relatively shortdevice life due to the pounding and forces exerted on the device by thevarious moving components. The present device includes a ram forsplitting the logs into smaller pieces. The ram is and cutting edges aremounted on a secondary frame which is mounted upon the main frame toisolate the ramming forces from the main frame. In addition, the cuttingedges are arranged to intersect centrally with respect to the log andare positioned to not initially simultaneously engage the log therebyminimizing the amount of ramming force needed to split the log.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is a machine for processingfallen trees into split logs comprising frame means including wheelsmounted thereto and further including a main frame supported by thewheels upon ground allowing the frame to be moved into a forest, a chutemounted on the frame and including an entrance to receive a fallen tree,pulling means mounted to the frame and operable to removably attach tothe fallen tree and pull same through the entrance and into the chute,saw means movably mounted to the frame and operable to cut off a portionof the fallen tree positioned in the chute, a ramp on the framepositioned adjacent the chute to direct the cut-off portion away fromthe chute, and, splitting means mounted on the frame and operable toreceive the cut-off portion from the ramp and split the cut-off portioninto split logs.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a machine for processingfallen trees located remotely therefrom into split logs comprising amobile main frame allowing the frame to be moved into a forest, chutemeans on the frame to receive a fallen tree, a wench mounted to theframe including a cable to removably attach to the fallen tree locatedremotely from the machine and pull the tree into the chute means, sawmeans movably mounted to the frame and operable to cut off a portion ofthe fallen tree positioned in the chute means, and, splitting meansmounted on the frame and operable to receive the cut off portion andsplit the cut-off portion into split logs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile machine forprocessing fallen trees into split logs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine whichmay be moved into a wooded area having means thereon for pulling fallentrees out of ravines and then processing the same into split logs.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide amachine for processing fallen trees into split lumber which requiresonly one person to operate.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the machine for processing fallen treesincorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a right hand end view of the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 ofFIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 ofFIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along theline 6--6 of FIG. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along theline 7--7 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a mobilemachine 10 for processing fallen trees into split logs. Machine 10includes a conventional main frame 11 having a plurality of wheels 12rotatably mounted thereto and a trailer hitch 13 attached to one end ofthe main frame for pulling or moving machine 10 into a wooded area.Fixedly mounted atop frame 11 is a pair of vertically mounted side walls14 and 15 (FIG. 3) which form a chute 16 to receive the fallen tree 23.A wench 17 (FIG. 2) is provided having a spool 18 rotatably mounted atopframe 11 and includes a cable 19 wound thereon. The free end of cable 19is extended through chute 16 and attached to the fallen tree with thewench then being activated to rewind the cable and pull the fallen treethrough the entrance 20 of the chute. The bottom wall 21 of chute 16 hasa concave center portion 22 nestably receiving the fallen tree 23. Atail gate 24 is pivotally mounted by conventional hinge 25 to frame 11and is moveable from an upward, closed position extending acrossentrance 20 to a downward, open position beneath the entrance as shownin FIG. 3 to provide a guide for the tree being pulled into the chute. Acable 26 or other conventional fastening means is provided on gate 24 toallow the gate to be locked in the upward position. Bottom wall 21 ofthe chute is inclined extending slightly upwardly from gate 24 to theexit opening 27 of the chute.

A hydraulically operated saw 28 is pivotally mounted to frame 11immediately adjacent the exit opening 27 of the chute. As wench 17 pullsthe fallen tree partially through exit opening 27 of the chute, saw 28may be pivoted downward thereby engaging and severing a portion 29 ofthe tree. A ramp 30 is mounted atop frame 11 immediately adjacent saw 28to support the cut-off portion 29 of the tree.

A holding member 31 (FIG. 7) is provided to releasably engage and holdfallen tree 23 while saw 28 severs the cut-off portion 29 from the tree.The holding means includes a plate 32 with a bottom serrated edge 33pivotally mounted to block 34 affixed to frame 11. A spring 35 normallyurges the member 32 downwardly to engage and hold fallen tree 23, but isreleasable to allow the member to be manually pulled upward when thewench pulls the tree further through the chute.

Once the cut-off portion has been severed from the fallen tree, it ismoved to a splitting means which is operable to receive the cut-offportion from ramp 30 and split the cut-off portion into split logs. Thesplitting means is mounted on a second frame and includes ahydraulically driven ram which forces the cut-off portion of the fallentree past a pair of cutting edges thereby splitting the cut-off portioninto split logs. The secondary frame isolates the horizontal compressionforce generated by the hydraulic ram from the main frame 11 therebyproviding for a structurally sound machine. The secondary frame 40includes a plurality of horizontally extending members 41 integrallyconnected together. Further, a plurality of vertically extending members42 are integrally connected to cross-members 43 and members 41. Theentire secondary frame 40 is securely fastened and mounted atop frame11. Cantileveredly mounted to cross-member 43 is a hydraulic cylinder 44having an extendable piston rod 45 with a distal end 46 attached to aram 47. The ram has a contact surface 48 on the side opposite of thehydraulic cylinder which will contact end 49 of cut-off portion 29. Theopposite end 50 of the cut-off portion engages a vertical cutting member51 and a horizontal cutting member 52 (FIG. 5). Further extension of thepiston rod forces the cut-off portion past cutting members 51 and 52thereby splitting the cut-off portion into individual logs.

Ram 47 has a vertically extending plate 53 (FIG. 4) fixedly secured toand between a pair of upright members 54 and 55 having outward turnedlegs 56 and 57 secured thereto. Legs 56 and 57 are slidably mounted atopthe inward turned legs 58 and 59 of bottom horizontally extendingL-shaped members 41. A pair of bars 60 and 61 are fixedly secured toupright members 54 and 55 to provide structural rigidity. The inwardturned portions 58 and 59 provide a pair of rails upon which the ram mayslide as the hydraulic cylinder extends and retracts its piston rod. Asecond pair of bars 62 and 63 are fixedly secured to the top portion ofupright members 54 and 55 adding further structural rigidity. An uppermember 64 is integrally mounted atop plate 53 and is positionedimmediately beneath the inward turned portions of top horizontallyextending members 41.

The floor of the splitting means includes a block 65 fixedly secured toframe 11 and having a pair of upwardly facing inclined surfaces 66 and67 which intersect beneath piston rod 45 forming an upwardly facingconcave seating area to receive the cut-off portion and to horizontallycenter the cut-off portion with respect to the intersection of cuttingmembers 51 and 52 which cross vertically above the intersection ofsurfaces 66 and 67. The bottom edge 68 of plate 53 is spaced apart fromsurfaces 66 and 67, but is a mirror image thereof. Surfaces 66 and 67form an upwardly facing V-shaped depression.

Cutting edges 81 and 82 are provided, respectively, on vertical member51 and a horizontal member 52 having their opposite ends integrallyconnected to a vertically moveable cutting edge holder 70 (FIG. 5).Holder 70 includes a pair of vertically extending edge portions 71 and72 (FIG. 5) which are slidably mounted within the edge flange portionsof a pair of upright members 73 (FIG. 6) fixedly mounted to horizontallyextending members 41 directing horizontal ramming force into frame 40and not frame 11. For example, edge portion 71 is slidably positionedbetween flanges 74 and 75 of upright member 73. A hydraulic cylinder 76has a bottom end fixedly mounted by conventional brackets 77 to member73. The extendable piston rod 78 is mounted to an outwardly extendingbracket 79 fixed to edge portion 71 of holder 70. Thus, extension andretraction of piston rod 78 will center the intersection 80 (FIG. 5) ofcutting edges 51 and 52 relative to the vertical center of cut-offportion 29.

Cutting members 51 and 52 each have a sharp edge facing the ram contactsurface 48. The cutting edge 81 (FIG. 6) of cutting member 51 ispositioned closer to the ram contact surface 48 than the cutting edge 82of the horizontally cutting member 52. Thus, vertical cutting edge 81will first contact and initiate a split in the cut-off portion of thetree prior to edge 82 engaging the cut-off portion. Thus, less pressureis required to split the log into several pieces. The split logs thenfall into a storage area 85 (FIG. 2) positioned in the aft section ofthe frame immediately behind the splitting means. Holder 70 may bedisconnected from piston rod 78 and moved upwardly disengaging theupright members 73 and allowing the cutting blades to be sharpened.

Ramp 30 is aligned with floor 65 of the splitting means to enable theoperator to manually push the cut-off portion 29 resting atop thehorizontally extending portion 86 of the ramp down an inclined surface87 of the ramp with cut-off portion then rolling down surface 66 (FIG.4) and being horizontally centered relative to intersection 80 of thecutting members. Intersection 80 is horizontally centered relative topiston rod 45 and the intersection of surfaces 66 and 67. Hydrauliccylinder 76 may then be activated raising or lowering the cut-offportion 29 to vertically center the log relative to intersection 80.

Conventional hydraulic means and controls are provided for the operationof wench 17, saw 28 and hydraulic cylinders 44 and 76. A power source 88such as an engine provided with a conventional battery 89 is mountedatop frame 11 and is connected to a supply of hydraulic liquid 90 forthe pressurization thereof. Conventional conduits extend from supply 90to the hydraulic motors attached to the wench and saw. Further,additional conventional conduits are provided for routing thepressurized hydraulic liquid to the pair of hydraulic cylinders 44 and76. A valve control board 91 is provided to control the flow ofhydraulic liquid for the activation of the wench, saw and hydrauliccylinders.

The present invention provides many advantages. First, the cable of thewench may be extended through the chute and removably attached to afallen tree located remotely from the machine. The fallen tree may be ina ravine or other inaccessible location. Thus, by rewinding the cableattached to the fallen tree, the tree may be pulled toward the chute andeventually into the chute engaging the saw. A further advantage is thatthe entire machine may be operated by a single person allowing completeprocessing of a tree from a fallen state to the split log state. Theparticular structural arrangement of the various components is designedto add stability and strength to the machine thereby providing a longmachine life. That is, the ram splitting means is designed in such amanner to isolate the horizontally generated compression forces from theremaining portion of the machine. Further, the splitting edges areintersected and moveable in such a manner to align the cutting edgeintersection with the center of the log to be split.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionare desired to be protected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A machine for processing fallen trees into splitlogs comprising:frame means including wheels mounted thereto and furtherincluding a main frame supported by said wheels upon ground allowingsaid frame to be moved into a forest; a chute mounted on said main frameand including an entrance to receive a fallen tree; pulling meansmounted to said main frame and operable to removably attach to saidfallen tree and pull same through said entrance and into said chute; sawmeans movably mounted to said main frame and operable to cut off aportion of said fallen tree positioned in said chute; a ramp on saidmain frame positioned adjacent said chute to direct the cut-off portionaway from said chute; and, splitting means mounted on said main frameand operable to receive said cut-off portion from said ramp and splitsaid cut-off portion into split logs, said splitting means including;cutting means and ramming means mounted on said main frame with saidramming means being operable to contact one end of said cut-off portionreceived from said ramp and force the opposite end of said cut-offportion against said cutting means splitting said cut-off portion intosplit logs; and a secondary frame fixedly mounted on said main framewith said ramming means and said cutting means mounted to said secondaryframe which isolates pressures exerted by said ramming means againstsaid cutting means from said main frame; wherein said secondary frameincludes a plurality of horizontally extending members interconnectedtogether to form a plurality of horizontally extending rails, saidramming means includes a power cylinder with an extendable piston rodand a contact surface located distally on said piston rod to engage oneend of said cut-off portion and apply horizontal force thereagainst,said contact surface is supported slidably upon said rails to move toand from said cutting means, said main frame further includes a V-shapedsupporting surface to receive said cut-off portion from said ramp tohorizontally align said cut-off portion resting thereatop with saidcutting means, said power cylinder and said cutting means are mounted tosaid horizontally extending members thereby absorbing said horizontallyextending force applied by said contact surface against said cut-offportion and isolating said main frame from said force, said contactsurface extending above said V-shaped surface and movable thereacrosstoward said cutting means.
 2. The machine for processing fallen treesinto split logs of claim 1 wherein:said chute includes an inclinedsupporting surface upon which said fallen tree is restable.
 3. Themachine for processing fallen trees into split logs of claim 2 andfurther comprising:holding means mounted on said frame and positionedadjacent said chute operable to removably hold said fallen tree inposition while said saw cuts said fallen tree.
 4. The machine forprocessing fallen trees into split logs of claim 3 wherein:said holdingmeans includes a toothed member movably mounted to said frame and springmeans engaged with said toothed member operable to releasably urge saidtoothed member into engagement with said fallen tree; and, said sawincludes a hydraulically driven cutting edge.
 5. The machine forprocessing fallen trees into split logs of claim 4 and furthercomprising:a gate movably mounted to said frame and movable from aclosed position whereat said gate closes said entrance which is elevatedabove ground to an open position whereat said gate extends beneath saidentrance providing a tree guide into said entrance.
 6. The machine forprocessing fallen trees into split logs of claim 1 wherein:said cuttingmeans includes a first straight sharp edge and a second straight sharpedge both pointing toward said ramming means to split said cut-offportion into split logs.
 7. The machine for processing fallen trees intosplit logs of claim 6 wherein:said first straight sharp edge is locatednearer to said ramming means than said second straight sharp edgeallowing said first straight sharp edge to engage and initiate a splitin said cut-off portion prior to said second straight sharp edgeengaging said cut-off portion.
 8. The machine for processing fallentrees into split logs of claim 6 wherein:said first straight sharp edgeand said second straight sharp edge cross to form an intersection andare vertically movable on said secondary frame to vertically align saidintersection centrally with said cut-off portion, said main frameincludes a V-shaped supporting surface to receive said cut-off portionfrom said ramp to horizontally align said cut-off portion restingthereatop centrally with said intersection.
 9. The machine forprocessing fallen trees into split logs of claim 6 wherein:said firststraight sharp edge and said second straight sharp edge are removablymounted on said secondary frame allowing removal therefrom to facilitatesharpening.
 10. A machine for processing fallen trees located remotelytherefrom into split logs comprising:a mobile main frame allowing saidmain frame to be moved into a forest; chute means on said main frame toreceive a fallen tree; a winch mounted to said main frame including acable to removably attach to said fallen tree located remotely from themachine and pull said tree into said chute means; saw means movablymounted to said main frame and operable to cut off a portion of saidfallen tree positioned in said chute means; a secondary frame mountedatop said mobile main frame, said secondary frame including a pluralityof members interconnected together to form rail means; splitting meansoperable to receive said cut off portion and split said cut-off portioninto split logs and including; ramming means which includes a powercylinder with an extendable rod and a contact surface located distallyon said rod to engage one end of said cut-off portion and to applyhorizontal force thereagainst; and, cutting means to engage the oppositeend of said cut-off portion; wherein said contact surface is supportedslidably upon said rail means to move to and from said cutting means;and wherein said cylinder and said cutting means are mounted to saidmembers thereby absorbing said horizontal force applied by said contactsurface against said cut-off portion and isolating said main frame fromsaid force.
 11. The machine for processing fallen trees into split logsof claim 10 wherein:said secondary frame further includes a V-shapedsupporting surface to receive said cut-off portion to horizontally alignsaid cut-off portion resting thereatop with said cutting means, saidcutting means includes a plurality of cutting edges which cross formingan intersection and which are vertically movably mounted to saidsecondary frame to align said intersection with said cut-off portion.12. The machine for processing fallen trees into split logs of claim 10wherein:said cutting edges include a first sharp edge and a second sharpedge with said first edge located nearer to said ramming means than saidsecond edge allowing said first edge to engage and initiate a split insaid cut-off portion prior to said second edge engaging said cut-offportion. .Iadd.
 13. A machine for splitting tree logs comprising:amobile main frame; a secondary frame mounted atop said mobile mainframe, said secondary frame including a plurality of membersinterconnected together to form rail means; splitting means operable toreceive tree logs and split said tree logs and including: ramming meanshaving a power cylinder with an extendable rod and a contact surfacelocated distally on said rod to engage one end of a tree log and applyhorizontal force thereagainst; and, cutting means to engage the oppositeend of said tree log; and wherein, said contact surface is supportedslidably upon said rail means to move to and from said cutting means;and, said cylinder and said cutting means are mounted to said membersthereby absorbing said horizontal force applied by said contact surfaceagainst said tree log and isolating said main frame from said force..Iaddend. .Iadd.
 14. A machine for splitting tree logs comprising:framemeans including wheels mounted thereto and further including a mainframe supported by said wheels upon ground; splitting means mounted onsaid main frame and operable to receive a tree log and split said treelog and including: cutting means and ramming means with said rammingmeans being operable to contact one end of said tree log and force theopposite end of said tree log against said cutting means splitting saidtree log; and, a secondary frame fixedly mounted on said main frame withsaid ramming means and said cutting means mounted to said secondaryframe which isolates pressures exerted by said ramming means againstsaid cutting means from said main frame; and wherein: said secondaryframe includes a plurality of horizontally extending membersinterconnected together to form a plurality of horizontally extendingrails, said ramming means includes a power cylinder with an extendablepiston rod and a contact surface located distally on said piston rod toengage one end of said tree log and apply horizontal force thereagainst,said contact surface is supported slidably upon said rails to move toand from said cutting means, said main frame further includes a V-shapedsupporting surface to receive said tree log to horizontally align saidtree log resting thereatop with said cutting means, said power cylinderand said cutting means are mounted to said horizontally extendingmembers thereby absorbing said horizontal force applied by said contactsurface against said tree log and isolating said main frame from saidforce, said contact surface extending above said V-shaped surface andmovable thereacross toward said cutting means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 15. Themachine for splitting tree logs of claim 14 wherein:said cutting meansincludes a first straight sharp edge and a second straight sharp edgeboth pointing toward said ramming means, said first straight sharp edgeis located nearer to said ramming means than said second straight sharpedge allowing said first straight sharp edge to engage and initiate asplit in said log prior to said second straight sharp edge engaging saidlog, said first straight sharp edge and said second straight sharp edgecross to form an intersection and are vertically movable on saidsecondary frame to vertically align said intersection centrally withsaid log, said V-shaped supporting surface aligns said log centrallywith said intersection, said first straight sharp edge and said secondstraight sharp edge are removably mounted on said secondary frameallowing removal therefrom to facilitate sharpening. .Iaddend.